Geneva 2014: McLaren 650S is the Pre-Porsche 911 Killer

Critics may accuse McLaren's new 650S as being a warmed-over 12C with a P1-inspired nose slapped on for good measure*, but this uprated model offers a mean little stopgap to the company's upcoming Porsche 911 killer, the lower priced "baby" model whose niche will also include competitors from the likes of Mercedes-Benz AMG and Maserati.

With its 640 horsepower output (650, if you're metric), 24 more stallions are brought to the table and help deliver a sub 3-second 0 to 60 time. Top speed is 207 mph in coupe form, or 204 mph for the Spider version. Despite the addition of items intended to make life easier and plusher-- like an electrically adjustable steering rack, a rear-view camera, and full Alcantara trim-- the 650S is 13 pounds lighter than the 12C.

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McLaren brass told Popular Mechanics that not only is the 650S more drivable at both ends of the spectrum-- city traffic and autobahn storming-- exhaust notes are enhanced by an ignition cutoff function that tosses uncombusted fuel through the exhaust system for an extra-dramatic, off-throttle "pop".

MSRP has not yet been communicated, but McLaren estimates the 650S will run somewhere between 10 to 15 percent more than the 12C-- which is paltry change, considering the obvious gains in performance and prestige. McLaren reckons that Asia, one of their biggest markets, will likely keep buying 12Cs because import taxes, which can be as steep as 200 percent, tend to discourage pricier purchases.

We'll give you the full low-down on McLaren's latest supercar following our first drive, scheduled in about a month.

* The revised front has the functional advantage of adding 24 percent more downforce at 150 mph.